Korean War a bittersweet memory for Chico-area veterans

Not for the sweltering summers or the icy cold winters, or another opportunity to eat rations while hunkering in a hole. And certainly not to relive the nightmares and ugly memories he has tried for decades to put past him.

He wants to finish the job.

"We wanted to push them buggers right back to Russia," the retired Army sergeant said. "To this day, I think they probably wish they hadn't intervened because it would be one Korea instead of two."

On this day in 1953, the People's Republic of China, North Korea and the United Nations agreed to an armistice, putting a stop to three brutally bloody years of fighting. In many ways, the agreement was good because it brought soldiers home, veterans say, but it also left an unresolved conflict behind.

Holland, 82, of Chico, remembers the day with absolute clarity.

At the time of the armistice, he was 50 miles north of Seoul, almost into North Korea. He was sitting in a hole on a hill with a radio and telephone operator and was happy to hear the news.

"I figured maybe I wouldn't get shot at anymore," he said. "War is brutal. You will be walking and the next thing you know, your best buddy is lying on the ground."

Despite the cease-fire, the Korean Peninsula today remains mired in conflict because no peace treaty was ever signed. The Demilitarized Zone along the 38th parallel remains the most guarded border in the world and 28,500 U.S. forces continue to serve in South Korea for security.

"It's still a war. It's never been settled," said Don Heeter, 81, of Chico. "It could happen at any time. All they have to do is cross the 38th and here we go."

After graduating from Chico High School in 1950, Heeter remembers coming home one fall day to find an army draft notice in his mailbox. He and his high school sweetheart, Margaret, quickly wed and by summer, he was in Korea, where he served as a rifleman and eventually communications chief.

Instead of pictures of his first son's birth, which happened while he was overseas, his albums from the early '50s are filled with images of Korean wartime. He's glad he served but wishes it was part of a better outcome.

"It's a forgotten war," he said. "They talk about World War II and then jump to Vietnam."

At least 2.5 million people were killed in the Korean War. The casualties include 36,574 U.S. troops, and another 103,284 wounded. Hundreds of prisoners of war have never been accounted for.

"You can't just mark that off as nothing," said Vearl Early, 80.

After finishing his sophomore year, he hitchhiked from Durham to Chico and signed up for the U.S. Navy in June 1950. Within weeks, communist North Korea invaded South Korea, and the United States quickly joined the battle against the communist aggression.

After brief training, Early boarded the USS Tacoma and landed at Incheon, South Korea, where he had two tours on navy destroyers to scout for enemies and help Marines make landfalls. He never saw face-to-face combat but knows he contributed to casualties.

"We cruised up and down both sides of Korea trying to shoot up everything that came along," the Durham resident said.

Three of Early's four brothers were also in the military. In 1951, during an attempt to connect with his oldest brother while overseas, he was told the soldier went missing in action.

It wasn't until months later that a letter to the family explained Earl Early had been captured by the Chinese People's Volunteer Army and was being held as a prisoner of war. Today, Vearl Early has no doubt the war could have been won without an armistice, but it at least brought his brother home safely after three years as a prisoner.

It also had a lasting impact on South Korea.

Holland, who has three campaign stars on his service ribbons, as well as a good conduct ribbon and United Nations service ribbon, received a letter of appreciation from then-South Korean President Kim Dae-jung at the 50th anniversary of the war's start.

"We Koreans hold dear in our hearts the conviction, courage and spirit of sacrifice shown to us by such selfless friends as you, who enabled us to remain a free democratic nation," it states.

Early, Holland and Heeter all said they are not sure if the conflict between North Korea and South Korea will ever be settled.

"It's gone on for 60 years," Heeter said. "Why would it?"

All three men are involved with the Veterans of Foreign Wars. They say they are proud of serving their country and would do it again if asked, but they hope the United States has learned from the outcome of Korea.

"If a country wants to fight, let them fight," Holland said. "The country needs to keep its nose out of other people's business."

Early is not so sure. His anger still stirs when North Korea makes the news.

"Every time I hear another leader over there making noise, it makes me mad again," he said. "I don't know why we don't go in and knock the hell out of them and get it over with."

Despite any disappointment about a peace treaty never signed, Heeter wears his Korea Veteran ball cap with pride. He said it's one small way to feel like the efforts are remembered.

"I like to have people come up to me and thank me, and for other guys to come up to me who were there at the same time," he said. "It shouldn't be forgotten."

Reach Ashley Gebb at 896-7768, agebb@chicoer.com, or on Twitter @AshleyGebb.